Partition system



April 28,1970 W. W.THOMPSON 3,50 ,3 v

PARTITION SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, .1968

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A TTORNEVS United States Patent 3,508,364 PARTITION SYSTEM Walter W. Thompson, P.O. Box 627, Hazlehurst, Ga. 31539 Filed June 17, 1968, Ser. No. 737,477 Int. Cl. E04b 2/82 US. Cl. 52122 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The wall partition system comprises a panel assembly including a floor track unit, a top track unit and a wall. panel guided for movement by the top and bottom track units. Preferably there are a pair of such panels. A second panel assembly may be provided at right angles to the first panel assembly forming either a T or a corner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide an improved wall partition system which is extremely versatile and which is composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of being readily installed or disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall partition system having a panel assembly including a bottomtrack unit, a top track unit, and one or two wall panels, the top and bottom track units having elongated guide tracks guiding the panel or anels for movement therealong.

Another object is to provide a wall partition system wherein the top guide track comprises a flange, the upper edge portion of the wall panel has a flange alongside the first mentioned flange, and clips are provided to prevent lateral separation of the flanges.

Another object is to provide an elongated trim member for concealing the flanges and clips.

Another object is to provide a floor track unit which includes an elongated base member, an elongated bottom track member extending lengthwise of the base member, and means for securing the bottom track member in vertically adjusted position with respect to the base member.

Another object is to provide a wall partition system in which the panel assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced parallel panels to provide a double wall partition.

Another object is to provide a wall partition system including first and second panel assemblies disposed at right angles to one another in the form of a T.

Another object is to provide a wall partition system including first and second panel assemblies secured together to provide a right-angle corner.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away and in section, disclosing a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view with parts broken away, taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to a portion of FIGURE 4 showing a modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the wall partition system there shown includes three panel assemblies P-1, P-2 and P-3 which are seen connected to- 3,508,364 Patented Apr. 28, 1970 ice gether as they might be to partition the interior space of a building. Thus the panel assemblies P1 and P-2 are connected together to form a right angle corner and the panel assemblies P1 and P3 are connected together in the form of a T. Since the individual panel assemblies P-1, P-2 and P-3 are substantially identical, a detailed description of one of the panel assemblies, namely, assembly P-l, will suflice as a description for all of the panel assemblies, like components of the three assemblies bearing the same reference characters.

The panel assembly P-1 comprises a bottom track unit 10, a top track unit 12 and a plurality of panels 20. It will be noted that there are two rows of panels 20 on the panel assembly P1. These two rows of panels are parallel to one another and while only two panels 20 are shown in each of the two rows, it will be understood that the required number of panels in the two rows will be provided to partition the space divided by the panel assembly P-1 with provision being made, of course, for door and window apertures where needed or desired.

The bottom track unit comprises an elongated channel shaped base member 22 and an elongated channel shaped bottom track member 24 (FIGURE 2) extending lengthwise of the base member 22. The base member 22 is adapted to be removably secured in fixed position on the floor of an enclosure and has vertically upright side flanges 26 connected by a horizontal web or base 28. The bottom track member has a substantially horizontal base 30 and side flanges 32 extending vertically upward, the distance between the side flanges 32 being slightly less than that between side flanges 26 so that the bottom track member 24 can fit downwardly and telescope within the base member 22.

In order to adjust the height of the bottom track member 24, it is apertured at suitable points in its base 30 along its length and a screw 34 extends through each aperture and threads through a nut 36 secured to base 30 in alignment with each aperture. A screw driver engaging the heads of the screws 34 may be employed to adjust the screws which, as seen in FIGURE 2, end-abut the base 28 of the base member 22 to thereby adjust the height of the bottom track member 24.

The upper edges of the side flanges 32 of the bottom track member 24 have extensions 37 extending laterally outwardly and then downwardly and return bent upwardly again to form downwardly opening parallel, horizontal guide tracks or channels 38 which extend throughout the full length of the track members 24.

The top track unit 12 is disposed in parallel relation to the bottom track unit 10, directly above the latter, and may be removably secured in such position to overhead support structure by any suitable means. The top track unit comprises an elongated inverted channel 40 having a pair of vertically downwardly extending side flanges 42 and a base 44 connecting the upper edges of the side flanges. The lower edges of the side flanges 42 extend laterally outwardly, as indicated at 46, and terminate in vertically upstanding flanges 48 which extend parallel to one another throughout the length of the channel 40.

The panels 20 may be of any suitable construction and in the present instance are shown as being hollow and may be filled with any suitable material. Along the lower edges of the panels 20 they are provided with vertically downwardly extending flanges 50 and along their upper edges they are provided with vertically upstanding or upwardly extending flanges 52. The flanges 50 and 52 extend parallel to the plane of the panels and are disposed on the median or central plane thereof. These upper and lower flanges 50 and 52, of course, extend horizontally through the full width of the panels.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the lower panel flanges 50 extend into the channels or bottom guide tracks 38 of the bottom track member 24. Thus the flanges 50 are guided for sliding movement along the tracks 38. The upstanding flanges 52 of the panels are respectively disposed alongside the upstanding flanges 48 of the channel 40 forming the top track unit. The upstanding flanges 48 thus provide the top guide tracks of the panel assembly.

Inverted flexible, resilient U-shaped clips 54 are snapped over the upstanding flanges 48 and 52 at intervals along their length, and an elongated trim strip member 56 is provided to conceal the upstanding flanges 48, 52 and the clips 54. While actually only a short section of the trim strip member 56 is shown in FIG- URE 1, it will be understood that this trim strip member extends for the full length of the panel assembly P-1 and does not move when the panels move. The trim strip member 56 has an inverted channel-shaped portion 58 which extends downwardly over the flanges 48 and 52 and the clips 54. Extending laterally outwardly from the lower edge of the outer flange of the channel-shaped portion 58 is a horizontal portion, 59 which is then turned vertically upward and then horizontally inward into contact with one of the side flanges 42, the vertically upward and inward portions being designated 60 and 62 and serving to conceal the inverted channelshaped portion 58.

It will be obvious that in assembling the panel as sembly P-1, the bottom track member 24 may be readily adjusted to the desired height and leveled by operation of the screws 34. After the panels 20 are assembled with their lower guide flanges 50 inserted in the bottom guide track channels 38, further and final adjustment can be made by operation of the screws 34, as desired, to raise the upper guide flanges 52 of the panels into side by side relation with the associated upstanding top guide track flanges 48 of the top track unit. Thereupon, the clips 54 may be snapped over the upstanding flanges 48, 52, and the trim strip member 56 installed, as shown, and the wall panel assembly P-1 is complete. The reverse procedure is just as simply carried out to disassemble or take down the panel assembly.

FIGURE 4 shows a so-called flush panel construction in which the adjacent edges of the panels in each row are substantially flush with one another. Thus the panels 20' have extensions 71 of one side edge terminating in a transverse inwardly extending flange 72. The adjacent side edge of panels 20" have flanges 73 disposed on the median plane of the panels. Thus as seen in FIGURE 4, these adjacent side edges of the panels 20' and 20" are flush with one another. The opposite side edges of panels 20" are constructed in substantially the same manner as the side edges of panels 20', shown in FIG- URE 4, and are given the same characters of reference.

FIGURE 6 shows a modification of the panel construction providing a revealed or recessed joint between panels. Thus the panels shown in FIGURE 6 have the central flanges 73 along both side edges similar to those illustrated in FIGURE 4 which overlap but which provide a recessed or contoured joint between adjacent panels.

Returning to FIGURE 4, a door trim 75 is provided for panels 20', having side flanges 76 which are secured to the panels 20'. Thus the door trim 75 may provide a portion of the frame for a door adapted to close a passage through the wall assembly. It will be understood, of course, that a window trim member may also be provided for opposed panels of a wall assembly to frame a window opening.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section showing the connection between the panel assemblies P-1 and P-2 at a right angle corner. Preferably, for this purpose, the upright member 70 is employed, here shown being connected to one of the panels 20 of the panel assembly P-1 by the fasteners 72. The upright member 70 extends the full height of the panels, has the configuration shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 and may, if desired, be formed from a single piece of sheet metal. The member 70 has a base part 74 extending along the side edges of the panels 20 of the panel assembly P-2, the short right angle flange 76 and the longer right angle flange 78 extending respectively along the outer sides of and receiving the panels 20 in the assembly P2. It is the flange 78 which in the present embodiment is shown as secured to one of the panels 20 in assembly P4. The other panel 20 in assembly P-2 may be free of member 70 or it may be secured by some means to the flange 7-6. The upright member 70 also has the flanges 80 and 82 which are parallel to one another, the flange 80 extending in continuation of the base 74. These flanges 78 and 80 receive the side edges of the panels 20 of the panel assembly P-l. The member 70 thus closes the comer joint between the panels of assemblies P-1 and P-2.

FIGURE 1 also shows the relationship of the panel assemblies P-1 and P-3 in the form of a T, the ends of the top and bottom track units of the assembly P-1 abutting and being connected to the sides of the top and bottom track units, respectively, of the panel assembly P-3. In this instance, it will be noted that there is an upright member secured to one of the panels 20 of the panel assembly P-3 which is formed with flanges 92 in upright parallel relation forming a channel adapted to receive the adjacent side edges of the panels 20 of the assembly P-1. The member 90 extends the full height of the panels and closes the joint between the panels of the assemblies P-1 and P3.

The present invention makes it possible to partition off the interior space of a building as desired by a panel system which is fast and easy to assemble and disassemble.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A wall partition system comprising a panel assembly including a bottom track unit, a top track unit and a pair of panels, said bottom track unit including an elongated base member adapted to be secured to the floor, an elongated bottom track member extending lengthwise of said base member, means mounting said bottom track member in vertically adjusted position on said base member, said bottom track member having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having lower edge portions engaging and guided by said respective guide tracks for movement therealong, said top track unit being disposedin parallel relation to and above said bottom track unit, said top track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated top guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having upper edge portions .engaging and guided by said respective top guide tracks for movement therealong, a second panel assembly at right angles to the first-mentioned panel assembly, said second panel assembly including a second bottom track unit, a second top track unit and a second pair of panels all constructed substantially the same as said first-mentioned top and bottom track units and said first-mentioned panels, said top track units connecting to form a T and said bottom track units connecting to form a T, and the inner panel on the track units forming the crossing member of the T having an upright member secured thereto defining a channel adapted to receive the adjacent side edges of the panels on the track units forming the stem of the T.

2. A wall partition system comprising a panel assembly including a bottom track unit, a top track unit and a pair of panels, said bottom track unit including an elongated base member adapted to be secured to the floor, an elongated bottom track member extending lengthwise of said base member, means mounting said bottom track member in vertically adjusted position on said base member, said bottom track member having a pair of laterally spaced,

parallel, elongated bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having lower edge portions engaging and guided by said respective guide tracks for movement therealong, said top track unit being disposed in parallel relation to and above said bottom track unit, said top track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated top guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having upper edge portions engaging and guided by said respective top guide tracks for movement therealong, a second panel assembly at right angles to the first-mentioned panel assembly, said second panel assembly including a second bottom track unit, a second top track unit and a pair of panels all constructed substantially the same as said first-mentioned top and bottom track units and said first-mentioned panels, said top track units connecting with one another at the ends to provide a corner and said bottom track units connecting with one another at the ends to provide a corner, the side edges of the panels of the first-mentioned panel assembly adjacent the corner carrying an upright member defining a channel adapted to receive the adjacent side edges of the panels of said second panel assembly.

3. A wall partition system comprising a panel assembly including a bottom track unit, a top track unit and a pair of panels, said bottom track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having lower edge portions engaging and guided by said respective guide tracks for movement therealong, said top track unit being disposed in parallel relation to and above said bottom track unit, said top track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated top guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having upper edge portions engaging and guided by said respective top guide tracks for movement therealong, a second panel assembly at right angles to the first-mentioned panel assembly, said second panel assembly including a second bottom track unit, a second top track unit and a second pair of panels all constructed substantially the same as said first-mentioned top and bottom track units and said first-mentioned panels, said top track units connecting to form a T and said bottom track units connecting to form a T, and the inner panel on the track units forming the crossing member of the T having an upright member secured thereto defining a channel adapted to receive the adjacent side edges of the panels on the track units forming the stem of the T.

4. A wall partition system comprising a panel assembly including a bottom track unit, a top track unit and a pair of panels, said bottom track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having lower edge portions engaging and guided by said respective guide tracks for movement therealong, said top track unit being disposed in parallel relation to and above said bottom track unit, said top track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated top guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having upper edge portions engaging and guided by said respective top guide tracks for movement therealong, a second panel assembly at right angles to the first-mentioned panel assembly, said second panel assembly including a second bottom track unit, a second top track unit and a pair of panels all constructed substantially the same as said first-mentioned top and bottom track units and said first-mentioned panels, said top track units connecting with one another at the ends to provide a corner and said bottom track units connecting with one another at the ends to provide a corner, the side edges of the panels of the first-mentioned panel assembly adjacent the corner carrying an upright member defining a channel adapted to receive the adjacent side edges of the panels of said second panel assembly.

5. A wall partition system comprising a panel assembly including a bottom track unit, a top track unit and a pair of panels, said bottom track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated bottom guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having lower edge portions engaging and guided by said respective guide tracks for movement therealong, said top track unit being disposed in parallel relation to and above said bottom track unit, said top track unit having a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, elongated upstanding flanges providing top guide tracks extending lengthwise thereof, said wall panels having along their upper edge portions upstanding flanges disposed alongside and engaging and guided by the first-mentioned upstanding flanges for movement therealong, and generally U-shaped clips extending over the upstanding flanges of said panels and of said top track unit to prevent separation thereof.

6. The wall partition system defined in claim 5, wherein said top track unit includes an elongated inverted channel having extensions projecting outwardly from the lower edges of its side flanges and terminating in the upstanding flanges aforesaid of said top track unit, and trim strips having downwardly opening channels engaging over and concealing said upstanding flanges and clips.

7. The wall partition system defined in claim 6, wherein said trim strips also have integral portions extending over and concealing the downwardly opening channels thereof.

8. The wall partition system defined in claim 5, wherein said bottom track unit comprises an elongated generally channel-shaped base member adapted to be secured to the floor, an elongated channel-shaped bottom track member extending lengthwise of said base member and fitting downwardly within said channel-shaped base member, said bottom guide tracks comprising upwardly opening channels disposed laterally outwardly of the upper edges of the side flanges of said channel-shaped bottom track memher, said lower edge portions of said panels having downwardly extending flanges engaging in said upwardly opening channels to be guided thereby.

9. The wall partition system defined in claim 8, comprising means mounting said bottom track member on said base member including a threaded member threaded through the base of said bottom track member and end abutting the base of said base member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,672,914 6/1928 Schmitt 52282 2,047,154 7/1936 Pimsner 52-275 2,078,491 4/1937 Graham 52-241 2,105,588 1/1938 Davis 52241 3,075,253 1/1963 Hammitt et a1 52--241 3,099,863 8/1963 Pollock et al 52241 3,411,252 11/1968 Boyle 52122 PRICE C. PAW, 111., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

